This article is part of the ’24-’25 Donor Yearbook & Annual Report. Click here to download the full report (PDF).
The Trinity Trust is a collection of funds created by Trinity County residents, for Trinity County residents. The Trust works to improve the quality of life in Trinity County through community giving and strategic grantmaking. An advisory committee of Trinity County residents stewards the funds that make up the Trinity Trust, in partnership with HAF+WRCF.
Our Approach
The Trinity Trust offers several grants and scholarships each year. Twice annually, Community Response Grants are offered to respond to urgent, unexpected, or one-time needs in instances when a small investment can make a lasting difference to the community.
Annual Summer Youth Grants support nonprofit programs for youth to learn, play, and develop in safe, productive settings. In addition, the committee reviews annual scholarships for Trinity students.
Our Impact
Since 1998, the Trinity Trust has granted a total of $3.1 million to 119 unique grantees, some of whom have received multiple grants over the years. The committee has utilized funds established by generous community members to support Trinity County, including the Gates Family Endowment Fund, the Giles F. Horney Endowment Fund, and the Trinity Trust Endowment Fund.
The active funds stewarded by the committee have issued 630 grants, 435 of which were Summer Youth Grants, reflecting the Trinity Trust’s long commitment to Trinity youth. In addition, Community Grants were deployed to address urgent and unexpected needs impacting the community. Recently, the committee prioritized disaster response and resilience grants to address the increasing frequency of local disasters.
Our Reach
Trinity Trust activities in 2024-2025 included deploying over $132,000 to 33 organizations. Highlights include:
Trinity Animal Shelter Auxiliary
Created in 1993, the Trinity Animal Shelter Auxiliary (TASA) supports crucial animal welfare efforts in Trinity County: spay/neuter services, emergency procedures, and more. In response to budget needs, the volunteer organization worked with the Board of Supervisors and the County to keep shelter services available. Trinity Trust provided a grant continuing “Spay and Neuter Initiative” services.
Trinity County Friends of the Library
This hardworking nonprofit began in 1986, when community volunteers committed to supporting the Trinity County Library. Last fall, against the backdrop of rising costs and uncertain federal funding, Friends of the Library worked with Trinity County to ensure that libraries stayed open. Trinity Trust was honored to support the Friends’ efforts with a grant to “Save the Libraries.”
A full house at the Kimtu Cookhouse cheers on the Dream Quest Drama Club’s performance of And Then There Was One, Too.
DeMarcus Busby flashes a high-five as his team competes in a brownie bake-off at the Dream Quest Youth Center. Dream Quest is among several organizations supported by the Trinity Trust Summer Youth Program, which funds initiatives that help children and youth learn, play, and grow in safe, productive settings.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SARAH LIPARI, DREAM QUEST YOUTH CENTER